Cancer Alliance wins prestigious national award for Community Partnerships scheme

A project promoting cancer awareness and screening through voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) grassroot organisations has been named Community Care Initiative of the Year at the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Patient Safety Awards 2024.

The Community Partnerships programme is a collaboration between Cheshire and Merseyside (C&M) Cancer Alliance and Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) organisations and over 100 local VCFSE providers, delivering effective hyperlocal engagement, supporting early cancer diagnosis and prevention across the region.

This is one of a number of projects emerging from the C&M VCFSE Health and Care Transformation Programme, coordinated by Voluntary Sector North West (VSNW), which harnesses the collective strength of the sector to tackle inequalities and improve people’s health and wellbeing.

Jon Hayes, Managing Director of Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance, said:

“I am delighted that this ground-breaking collaborative work has been recognised and would like to congratulate everyone involved. From the beginning they have been driven by desire to reduce health inequalities, and by the understanding that cancer messaging is most effective when communities put it into their own words.”

Racheal Jones, Integrated Care System VCFSE representative, Liverpool City Region VS6 said:

“This work is a real testament to the power of collaboration and partnership between the NHS and the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) Sector to reach those furthest away from securing positive health outcomes.”  

Alison Cullen, Integrated Care System VCFSE representative, Cheshire and Warrington Infrastructure Partnership, said:

“This is a fantastic achievement for all those involved, delivered through a truly coproduced approach that recognises how local people are best placed to deliver grassroots community engagement, and have a pivotal role in addressing health inequalities.”

See the full details of the award and the work of the C&M Cancer Alliance here